Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-28
A DEATHBED CONFESSION.
A Dying Man Tells How He Killed His
Wife and Represented that She had
ElOped.


PressonviIie p. dispatch to the N. Y. Sun, Oct o.
startling revelation was made here to-day By
Dr.. J. 7. Quinton, a prominent physician, which
clears up mystery Of more than ten years stand
ing. Three weeks ago Silas crosby, Q quarry
hand. was suddenly taken sick, and Dr. Quinton
| was called to see him. Crossbys trouble soon de-
veloped into typhoid pneumonia, and he asked the
doctor II his case was hopeless one to let him
know it, because he had a secret to reveal which
he could not take to the grave. The physician
told him that II he desired TO make any prepara-
tons for death, religious or otherwise, he would
advise him 70 do So his disease was necessarily
fatal, though he might linger some time. The
doctor was astounded when Grossly said the con-
Re ss 20 Of
the propriety Of having either minister OF the
Gospel Or an ofcer Of the law to witness the con-
He then told the following story:
"My FUN name is silas Aaron GROSSLY, and am
an Eng isnnIan BY birth soon after arriving in
have resided and worked ever since The family
consisted OF myself and wife and Hiram BellingtOn,
fellow countryman, who took passas with us
and who remained with me until the night OF
my wife's death. Bellington was a co-labOrer Of
mine, and we were much attached to each other I
wife's name was sarah Farnsworth. The union
was not happy one, and spent much OF my time
in meditaing over the best means TO get nd OF my
Bellington was bitterly opposed TO her, and fire.
quently made the remark that If he was in my
place he would get nd Of her. was encouraged
By these remarks, because knew II wanted his
Fignt we talked frequently Thereafter about the
upon. It was however, % decided that e'i BIZ.
iington should be in her company
az the house az much as possible, that
against her. But Tits amounted to nothing, a.
she denantly refuted the charges. and more FIRE:
quent quarreis were the result The trouble and
pQSoa a hnnsa w IN nm
one outside. Even the Immediate neign0Ors were
unaware Of the trouble, as my wife visited one,
part OF sepssmosr 1877. I cams home IT from work
In rather moody state OF mind, and began fault
finding the moment entered the house Belling.
ton was with me. quarrel between myself aud
wife arose, when, In a moment Of passion,
rushed at her. and getting my hands tightly
around her throat choked her to death. When
We found that life was extinct we carried the body
up stairs and laid 1t on the bed, and then dis
cussed the best way 10 dispose Of It. Belllng-
dispose Of the remains, and to throw on sus-
picion he would leave town Immediately, and
the story OF an elopement OF Mrs Silas
Crosby with Henry Bellington would cover
up the whole affair. Bellington carried the body
away between and 2 O'Clock In the morning and
SAID II was all hight ne buried II IN one OF the old
nlled In with refuse Bellngton dressed himself
and left the town. Before going, however, he
Crosby to me- and left It In her room, as we all
occupied separate rooms. The letter gave IN detail
full account OF her unhappiness with me, and In
substance stated the reason OF her going away
with Bellington was to escape the abuse and per-
secution OF a tyrannical husband retired TO bed
after BellingtOn left, but the struggles OF dying
woman were continually before me. The next
morning hurried out 10 the nelghborS and those
OF my working companions and informed them OF
Beilingtons treachery In clipping with my wife,
acterized as Bellington's own work. The circum-
stances OF the supposed elOpement and the
excitement Of that morning are still fresh in the
minds OF tho people here, but my LIE has been q
by her appearance, both at home and at work. and
several times seriously thought OF giving myself
up TO the authorities and suffer the penalty OF my
crime. The story Of the eiopement worked well.
No one doubted the truth Of 1t, because Belling-
tons absence confirmed 1t. Never having any
went boarding. Belltngton promised when ne
left that he would keep me posted as 10 his move
ments and whereabouts, but have never heard
anything from him since. His silence, II he Is not
get away on account OF what happened, and did
not intend 10 wr1Le or keep me posted
Crosby trembled and sank back In the bed
greatly exhausted He fingered until noon yes
tsrday, when he died. When the news OF the muir
der became public many OF the neighbors who
ment crowded around the dead mans house out OF
curiosity, and discussed the terrible tale. The
case has been placed In the hands OF Detective
Johnson Tor Investigation, who says an enOrt may
be made TO md the body OF the murdered woman.
His first object, however, will be to get clue TO
the whereabouts OF Bellington, who, II captured,
Will be able TO tell where the woman'S body was
placed. Crosby and Bellington are both spoken
well OF by the Quarrymen, who expressed their
great surprise at the confession OF Crosby. IL Is
to the arrest OF BelnngtOn, has already been OBJ
tanned.